Can Elizabeth Edwards ever get a break? As if her problems aren’t enough – now she’s under attack for her book. The woman has terminal cancer, for chrissakes. All she wanted to do was write her story. Instead, the media picked her apart about her husband, John Edwards, and prodded her on the role she played in his misdeeds. Nice going, enquiring minds, give her another reason to throw up!

How unfortunate for a wife of a disgraced politician to be a target of the public’s scrutiny. Just ask Hillary Clinton. During Monicagate, she received her share of wrath from women for staying in the marriage, while Monica Lewinsky became an overnight sensation. The hussy went from being big-haired bimbo, to intriguing ingénue. How did she become the innocent victim?

Now once again, we have nearly the same scenario with Elizabeth and John Edwards, except with a love child in the picture. Plus to complicate matters, Elizabeth has inoperable cancer. Surely she had thoughts of doing a Lorena Bobbitt on her husband, but lucky for him they have young children and time is not on her side.

So Elizabeth Edwards decided to write a positive book on hope and dealing with life’s adversities. She’s smart enough to know that once she passes on, her children will be left with questions. The book would help them understand that life doesn’t always go in a straight line – if they could understand their father’s strengths, as well as his weaknesses, a loving relationship could continue with their father without emotional conflicts. The book was also meant to give hope to others facing adversities in their lives as well.

But the media misunderstood and thought it was a “trashing my husband book.” What should have been a last poignant story from a mother to her children, turned into another nightmare for her. Okay, now we see where Mrs. Edwards was so naïve – she trusted the media to understand a book about hope.

Edwards was slammed for everything from being naïve, to details of her husband’s affair, to why she would even write a book. The grilling may have been good reporting, but was distasteful and unfair. How many healthy individuals can recount accurately, the details of events that happened years ago? Imagine the difficulty for someone on medication with terminal cancer being expected to get every detail correct in an interview. The questions arose about when she knew about her husband’s affair, and if she knew, why she continued to campaign for him. Then she was told that people blamed her for defrauding them by continuing to campaign for her husband. She is guilty by marriage. Surely she saw her husband as somewhat of a Bill Clinton – someone who is good for the country, but not good for himself and those close to him.

Critics wanted to know why only a short mention about her husband’s unnamed mistress was in the book. Then, when Mrs. Edwards recounted what her husband had told her about the encounter with his mistress, critics wanted to know how she could be certain of what was said when she wasn’t there. Now really – who the heck cares? It’s her story and that’s what she knew. The book is about hope and dealing with adversities. If they wanted dirt, why couldn’t they just pick up a National Enquirer?

The real tragedy of all is this: Elizabeth Edwards received nothing but flak from the media, while Riele Hunter, the mistress, will surely be viewed as the glamorous victim. Remember how Monica Lewinsky’s standing was raised to celebrity status after the Clinton affair?

Likewise, Hunter will not be blamed, particularly when she appears with the adorable baby in her arms. Watch for the sympathetic tabloid interview with Baba Wawa or whoever wins the suck up contest for the scoop.

So think about that when you see John Edwards’ mistress hitting the airwaves and magazine covers soon, and then ask yourself, “Why am I so intrigued with the mistress, and so irritated with the wife?”